Unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, in just her sixth tournament since returning from a wrist injury sustained at the 2023 US Open, defeated Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday to secure her spot in the New York semifinals for the second year in a row. Muchova, who resumed playing in June, received medical attention several times during the second set but managed to overcome the 22nd-seeded Brazilian in 85 minutes.
"A bit of an unusual match, I must admit," Muchova commented during her on-court interview after reaching her fourth Grand Slam semifinal. "I encountered some issues, which I prefer not to discuss, but I'm glad I handled it, including a quick trip to the bathroom. I apologize if it bothered anyone; it was unavoidable." Muchova quickly took control, securing a 4-0 lead with a double break, holding serve effortlessly, and then closing out the first set after Haddad Maia finally scored.
Haddad Maia showed improvement in the second set, but Muchova, who started clutching her hip between points, delivered a decisive backhand winner to break for a 3-2 lead and then sought medical help. The match saw alternating breaks in the following games, but Muchova, after consulting with the physio and doctor, held serve to reach 5-3 and then capitalized on new balls to clinch the victory with an ace on her first match point.
"New balls make the game faster. You can apply more spin, so when I learned we'd be using new balls in the final game, I was quite pleased," said Muchova, ranked 52nd in the world, after improving her head-to-head record against Haddad Maia to 4-0. "I focused on getting my first serves in, knowing it could create difficulties. It worked out well in the last game." Haddad Maia, the first Brazilian woman to reach the US Open quarterfinals since Maria Bueno in 1968, also needed medical assistance late in the match due to apparent breathing difficulties.
Muchova, who hasn't lost a set at this year's final Grand Slam, will face either top seed Iga Swiatek or sixth-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the next round for a chance to advance to the final.
